When they arrived, Elaine got out of the truck. She spotted her mom, Alice, and ran over, engulfing her in a hug. "Mom! How are you?" she asks, stepping back. "Elaine Sweetie, don't worry about me" her mother replies. She looks up from Elaine, spotting Jack. "Who is this?" Alice asks suspisious already. "Oh Jack? He's a friend" she tells her. Alice gives him a glare before leading them into the house. "Now, tell me about this friend you've brought here" Alice says. "Well, we met at the rescue. You know the one I'm volunteering at" Elaine began explaining.

"I also think I knew her from the past at shows. She's a great rider. She showed me how to have softer hands on the reins and be quicker reacting." He added, "And she won a world title, so it was honor to know a comrade on that aspect." He leaned to the right and crossed his arms, putting some distance between the 2 of them, and doing something to make sure he didn't automaticaly catch her hand or kiss her. Just friends in their eyes. Just friends! He nodded along with what Elaine said, making sure he looked wholeheartedly innocent. Well, now i'm kinda scared of her mom... He turned to talk to the dad, holding out his hand to shake and said, "Howdy, sir. My name is Jack. Jack Luque. How do you do, sir?" He asked, beaming.

caleb was riding whiskey back so he could start working with dune. he saw the couple in the tack room and walked past waiting for them to exit so he could get dune's tack. hed try reining with the gelding. he brushed the thoroughbred down and tacked him up. the gelding didnt take to reigning much and instead caleb set up barrels and the gelding was a natural. he was super fast and did the turns well.

Elaine blushes at Jack's comment. She had to look away to prevent her mother from seeing. While it was a plausible explanation, Alice still didn't trust him. Rownan, Elaine's dad, smiled widely when Jack spoke. He could hear the love in his voice. He shook his hand. He then whispered in Elaine's ear. "He's a nice fellow, keep him" only to be hit in the back of the head by Alice's hand. "ow, okay, okay" he says backing up and rubbing his head in mock pain. "Tell me about yourslf" Alice instructed Jack

"Well, ma'am, I grew up in Tenessee with my parents and my sister. I was gifted my horse, Treasure, at the age of 9. Treasure and I have gone on to win some pretty cool national titles and some recognition. I'm 19 now and have my own place. My job bounces around places as a ranch-hand, but right now i'm a volunteer for horses in need at the rescue Elaine is also volunteering at. What else would you like to know?" He asked the parents, "Or is there nothing else?" He smiled at the father once more and composed his face to look at the mother with a warm smile.

Alice's gaze starts to soften. "Take your horse to the stables, we have empty stalls you can put them in" she tells him. "Elaine show him, where" she tells her daughter before glaring at Jack again. Rownan rubbs his wife's shoulders, causing her to soften once more before her expression hardened again. "but I'm watching you" she adds. "Mooom!" Elaine sighs, "Ignore her, she's just overprotective" she tells Jack as they walk toward the stables.

"I think she's wonderful." He said, a little louder than necassary, "Treasure is probably getting antsy. Let's go for a ride." The two walked to the trailer, Jack itching to hold her hand, pick her up, and kiss her for a while. But he didn't. It physically hurt to not do so. Instead, he busied his hands by grabbing the saddle, saddle pad, and bridle from the bed of the truck. The two walked over to Treasure in the trailer, unloaded, and tacked up. "I need to talk to you." He said, walking Treasure toward the stables.

"What is it?" she asks, curious to what he wanted to talk to her about.

"I think you should tell your mother. Not the whole story, just about you having a crush on me. Maybe she sees me better that way, rather than someone trying to use you. I know you know better, but does she? I like your parents, and I love you. But, your mom seems to be analyzing me from every possible angle. I'm no mind reader, but I think she's onto us." He said, speaking quietly as to not allow Alice to hear. He then asked in a normal volume, "Where's Prom? Let's tack up and go riding."

Elaine nods, "you're right. It might be better to just be honest with her" she then smiles, "You go tack up first, I'll talk to my mother" she tells him. She then finds her mother and begins explaining to her the whole story. She comes back about ten minutes later. "Sorry for keeping you waiting" she tells Jack, walking to the stall where Prom, the black mare was inside. She unlatched the door and slipped on her halter.